FORT MYERS, Fla. — After securing a World Series victory last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Walker Buehler made the move to the Boston Red Sox, signing a one-year contract worth $21.05 million. The Red Sox are also in the process of enhancing their starting pitching roster, similar to Buehler’s previous team.
Sitting at his locker during spring training, Buehler commented on the state of starting pitching in the league today. “A significant factor in the game now is the requirement for depth in the pitching staff,” he noted. Reflecting on his time with the Dodgers, he added that they have an impressive pool of pitchers, with 13 of them being major league caliber.
Boston has focused much of its offseason on strengthening its pitching lineup, especially before finalizing a deal with infielder Alex Bregman. “We’re likely to see more teams adopting similar strategies,” Buehler remarked. “It’s clear that the demand for quality starting pitchers is growing, and many teams acknowledge the necessity of having them.”
Alongside Buehler, the Red Sox have made notable acquisitions, including the young left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox and the experienced Patrick Sandoval, who is anticipated to recover from Tommy John surgery this summer. These newcomers will join a roster that already includes established talents such as All-Star Tanner Houck and fellow right-handers Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Garrett Whitlock. Lucas Giolito, another right-handed pitcher, is also making a solid comeback after missing the previous season due to injury.
Whitlock expressed excitement about the team’s pitching potential, stating, “We have some incredibly talented pitchers, and that’s really encouraging.” He added, “Looking around the locker room, it’s clear there’s major league and All-Star level talent throughout.”
However, the presence of so many skilled pitchers creates a competitive atmosphere for those vying for starting positions as the season approaches. “The competition is a great motivator, and it should lead to significant success for us,” Whitlock acknowledged.
With their expanded pitching depth, the Red Sox are contemplating the possibility of implementing a six-man rotation when the season kicks off.
While improving their pitching, the team aims to address defensive inefficiencies as well. The Red Sox recorded the highest number of errors in the Major Leagues over the last two seasons, totaling 217, including 115 in the last year—ranking just behind Miami, which committed 117 errors.
Last season, Boston’s starting pitchers primarily focused on a strategy introduced by pitching coach Andrew Bailey, which emphasized breaking pitches. However, as the season progressed, the approach shifted. Manager Alex Cora believes that this season’s emphasis on hard-throwing pitchers and prioritizing fastballs over breaking pitches will not only enhance pitching performance but also reduce errors, provided the fielders maintain better habits.
“We’ve been discussing strategies to improve our defense; investing in swing-and-miss pitches is crucial,” Cora said. “We need more strikeouts. Last year, we spun the ball too much, and opposing teams adjusted accordingly. We’re in a strong position in terms of velocity this time around.”
